Fluid pressure differential responsive cutoff valve



March 4, 1952 H. c. oTlS FLUID PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSIVE CUTOFE VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 9, 1946 l uw R. mm Om Cm m r L m ,Md H f v. B.

A T 7' ORA/EY March 4, 1952 H, C. Qns 2,588,284

FLUID PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL REsRoNsIVE cuToEE VALVE Filed July 9, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 Herben C. OHS

1N V EN TOR.

BY M?.

ATTRIVEY FLUID PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSIVE CUTOFF VALVE Filed July 9, 1946 H. C. OTIS March 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Shea?l 5 NVENTOR.

BY' ,f

'TORNEY Herbert C. Otis @Marl/4,4767!! 8 9 mwmn.- 9 x IllP 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H.I c. o'rls FLUID PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSIVE CTOFF VALVE Filed July 9,` 1946 March 4, l1952 WNF www SQ www Patented Mar. 4, 17952 FLUID PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSIVE CUTOFF VALVE Herbert C. Otis, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 9, 1946, Serial No. 682,364

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a safety device which is adapted to be actuated by flowing fluids passing through the conductor in which the device is connected for controlling the flow through such conductor.

An important object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described which is arranged to close to completely shut off the flow through the flow conductor in which it is located upon the occurrence of a rate of ilow in excess of a predetermined desired rate of ow through said conductor.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a safety device including a valve adapted to be connected in a flow conductor, and iiuid pressure differential operated means for actuating the closure member of said valve to close the same to cut oif flow through the conductor when a predetermined fluid pressure differential is applied to said actuating means.

A particularly important object of ther invention is to provide a safety device having valve means which is arranged to normally remain wide open to permit a predetermined iiow through the iiow conductor and which is adapted to be automatically completely closed to positively shut off flow through said conductor upon the occurrence of a rate of flow in excess of such predetermined desired rate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described having incorporated therein means resisting movement of the device to closed position, whereby the conditions under which the valve will close may be controlled and adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described which is arranged to be actuated by the pressure differential of the flowing fluids in the flow conductor in which the device is located, and wherein fluctuating normal velocities of flow, such as occur when the fluids flowing through the conductor head or surge, will not effect premature closure of the device, thereby providing for uninterrupted normal iiow through the conductor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety device including a valve adapted to be connected in a flow conductor and having an actuating means connected with the valve closure member for moving the same toward and from closed position, said actuating means being operated by the differential in fluid pressures applied to opposite sides of said means from separate points in the iiow conductor, whereby a. rate of flow creating an excessive drop in pressure downstream of the safety device or an excessive increase in pressure upstream of said safety device will cause said valve to close to shut off iiow through the conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a safety device of the character described means for dampening the action of the actuating means to prevent damage or destruction of the valve members in the event of sudden application of a high pressure differential across said actuating means. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide a safety device of the character described wherein the pressure of the fluid trapped in the iiow conductor when the valve element has been moved to closed position maintains the valve ele-A ment closed to assure prevention of loss of fluid from the flow conductor after the safety device has closed to shut oli ow.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a safety device of the character described means for causing the valve to reopen 'to permit resumption of flow through the conductor.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a safety device constructed in accordance with the invention and connected in a flow conductor, showing the valve in open position,

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the valve member in closed position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the actuating cylinder taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 3,

Figure 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a modified form of the safety device of Figure l showing the valve in open position,

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 4, showing the valve of the safety device in closed position Figure 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a safety device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing a different type of valve in open position,

Figure '7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, showing the valve in closed position,

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a modied form of the invention and showing the valve in open position,

Figure is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 9, showing the Valve in closed position, and

Figure 1l is a fragmentary View of the upper portion of the safety device of Figure 9, illustrating a modied form of restraining means.

The numeral I5 Ydesignates a valve housing or casing having a lateral inlet opening IB and a lateral outlet opening I1 disposed diametrically opposite each other and having external annular ilanges I8 to which flanged connecting members I9 may be bolted for connecting the housing in a. Well ow conductor C. Sealing rings 28 prevent iiuid leakage between the flanges. The upper end of the valve housing or bodygis provided with an external annular flange 2 I, by means of which a bonnet 22 may be bolted to the upper Y end of said housing to close the same. A sealing ring 23-preventsfluid leakage between the iiange 2| landcthefbonnet 22'.A The bonnet is'provided Withan axialvertical `opening which is enlarged to form -a packing recess 2d' in which a plurality of oppositely facing rings of chevron type packing 25 are conned by means of a gland nut 25 threaded-.into the lower end of the opening in the bonnet.

A valve stem 21 extends vertically through the bonnet-into the bore 0f the housing and is connected to-a gate type plug or closure 2B which is slidablevertically within the housing between identical opposing seats 29 mounted in the housing and surrounding the inlet and outlet openings therein. 'i he valve closure or'plug a8 is illustrated as being of the well known sectional wedge type,- which isY designed in such a manner that one of the wedge surfaced-members of the closure element-engages a portion of the housing to force the closureelement into tight sealing engagement with the seats 29.

The -valve closure-or plug is provided with a transverse opening in its lower portion which is adapted to-be moved into alignment with the inlet `andoutlet openings of the housing to permit flowthroug-h said valve. YWhen the valve closure plug--is moved downwardly to the position illustratedin- Figure 2, the solid portion of the plug is positioned in alignmentwith the openings to closethe same against flow therethrough.

A -valve actuating mechanism is provided on the upper end-ofthe bonnet and includes an elon- .l

gate vertical cylinder which is lpreferably formed integral with the bonnet and is in vertizal alignment with the valve stem 21. A piston 36, having la sealing `cup 31 mounted thereon and held in place,r by means'of a thimble Y38 and a nut-39; is connected to the upper end of the stem 21 by screw threads and is securely held in place thereon by a lock nut B0.

An elongate rod 4I is threaded into the upper end of thepiston'and is securely held thereinby means of a lock nut 32.` The rod extends upwardly out of the upper end of the cylinder and a cap 43; havinga plurality of packing rings 46 held'ftherein by gland `nut 55, surrounds the rod and is threaded into `the upper end of the cylinder.

A 4high-pressure inlet opening 55 provides for admission of fluid pressure into the bore of the cylinder 35 at its upper end adjacent'the closure leads to a radial opening 54 'formed in the flange I9 connected to the upstream or inlet side of the valve housing. A similar fluid conductor or pipe 55 having a valve 5G therein is connected to a radial opening 51 formed in the ange i9 attached to the downstream or outlet side of the valve housing I5. It will be seen, therefore, that iiuid pressure will be admitted through the opening 5&2 and conducted through the pipe 52 to the bore of the cylinder 35 above the piston 35, and will act downwardly thereupon. Similarly, fluid pressure will flow into the opening 51 through the pipe 55 and the inlet 5i to the bore of the cylinder below the piston 36 and Will act on the under side of said piston.

From the foregoing, it will readily be seen that the 4fluid pressures will act upon opposite sides of the piston to move said piston, which acts through the stem 21 to move the closure or plug 28.

Actuating movement of the piston is effected by a fluid pressure differential which is created by an. orice plate or discv 53 formed integral with the sealing ring llat the inlet end of the housing and which serves to restrict flow from the conductcr into the Valve housing. Thus, a pressure differential is created upon opposite sides of said oriceplate .or disc and the pressure iluid from the upstream or high pressure side of the orifice piate is conducted through the opening 5d, the pipe 52 and the inlet 55 to the bore of the cylinder 35 above the piston 35, while the pressure fluid from the downstream or low pressure side of the disc or plate Eil is conduetcd by means of the openng 51. and the Ypiper55 through the inlet 5I to the lower portion of the bore of the cylinder 55 below the-piston 35. Itwill readily be-seen, therefore, that the high pressure acting upon the upper side of the piston normally tends to move the same downwardly to close the valveplug 28 to prevent further flow through the housing, while the lower pressure acting upon the under side of said piston ynormally tends to urge the piston upwardly' to resist downward movement thereof.

However, the cross-sectional-area'of the rod l connected to the upper end of the piston and having its upper end extending out of the cylinder 35 and exposed to only atmospheric pressure `serves to negative-0r balance out an equivalent surface of the piston is reduced by the provision of therod'4l and the Cross-sectional area of said rod may beso selected as to require the application-of a desired predetermined iiuid pressure differential to the opposite surfaces of the piston to cause said Vpiston to move downwardly. As a result, fluid pressure differentials less than the desired predetermined differential acting upon theopposing surfaces of the plston will not move the VVpiston downwardly, since the downward force of the high-pressure acting upon the reduced eiective area of the upper side of the piston will not be sufficient to overcome the upward force ofthe'lower pressure acting upon the area of the under sidelof'said'piston less the area of the valve Astem- 21;'plus`the vforce ofthe uid pressure in l the valve housing acting upwardly on the crosssectional area of the valve stem.

It will be seen, therefore, that the diameter of the rod 4| may be so selected that the crosssectional area thereof will negative a sufficient area of the upper surface of the piston to reduce the effective area thereof to such a value that such effective area will be sufficiently smaller than the full effective area of the under side of the piston to require the application of at least a predetermined desired uid pressure differential to the opposed sides of the piston before said piston will be moved downwardly to close the valve plug. It is also manifest that, for all flowing conditions of the fluids flowing through the conductor creating a fluid pressure differential less than the desired predetermined differential, the piston will not be moved and the valve will remain fully open.

Since the pressure reduction or differential created by the orice plate is dependent upon the size of the orifice opening therethrough and the rate of flow of fluids through the conductor, the size of the orifice opening is so selected that for all normal desired rates of flow the pressure differential created across said orice plate `is not equal to or in excess of the predetermined desired differential necessary to cause the piston to move downwardly to close the valve. Thus predetermined desired normal rates of flow of fluid through the conductor are permitted, but when for any reason the rate of flow of the fluids is increased, as by breakage of the flow conductor downstream of the safety device or for any other reason, to a rate in excess of the predetermined desired maximum normal rate, the pressure differential created thereby across the orifice plate will be increased to a value in excess of the predetermined desired differential required to cause the piston 36 to move downwardly. As a result, the differential in the pressures conducted to and acting upon opposite sides of the piston 36 will be increased to a point at which the high pressure acting upon the upper and effectively smaller area of the piston suiciently exceeds the low pressure acting on the effectively larger area of the under side of the piston to cause the piston to move downwardly to force the valve stem and the valve closure or plug 28 connected therewith downwardly to close off flow through the housing I5, as shown in Figure 2. The valve plug will be positively moved to completely closed position, since the energy applied to the piston is increased by the flow restricting action of the plug as its solid portion moves across the flow openings through the housing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that, by varying the cross-sectional area of the rod 4 I, the pressure differential required to actuate the piston to close the valve may be predetermined and controlled in such a manner as to cause accurate predetermined conditions to be met before the Valve will be closed. For example, if the effective cross-sectional area' of the piston be assumed to be six square inches and the downstream pressure acting upon the under side of the piston be assumed to be 1,000 pounds per square inch, it will be seen that an effective upward force of 6,000 pounds will be acting upon the piston to move the same upwardly. Also, if the cross-sectional area `of the rod 4l be assumed to be equal to approximately 0.4 of one square inch, the effective area of the upper side of the piston exposed to downward pressure will be 5.6 square `inches and a pressure of approximately 1,071`

fil)

6 pounds per square inch will be required to create an effective downward force suflicient to balance the upward force acting upon the piston because of the 1,000 pound per square inch pressure below the same. Now, should it be assumed that the pressure acting on the under side of the piston were, for example, 900 pounds per square inch, while the pressure acting upon the upper side of the piston is maintained at approximately 1,071 pounds per square inch, it will readily be seen that the piston will be forced downwardly by the high pressure acting upon the upper side of the piston, since a downward force of' approximately 6,000 pounds will be acting upon the piston while an upward force of only approximately 5,400 pounds will be acting upwardly thereon.

By changing the cross-sectional area of the rod ll to one inch, it will be seen that the effective area of the upper side of the piston exposed to the high pressure will be only approximately 5 square inches and will require a higher pressure, in excess of approximately 1,200 pounds per square inch, to overcome the upward force of the low pressure of 1,000 per square inch acting upon the under side of the piston, Therefore, the pressure differential required to actuate `the piston and cause the same to move the valve closure or plug member 28 to closed position may be controlled by controlling the cross-sectional area of the rod 4I.

As has already been pointed out, for desired normal rates of flow the pressures on opposite sides of the orifice plate or disc 60 will be substantially equal or only slightly different and such differential will not be adequate to cause operation of the piston. However, should the flow conductor break on the downstream side of the safety device or be opened to excessive flow therethrough, so as to cause a pressure drop at the orifice plate equal to or in excess of the predetermined differential necessary to move the piston, the differential so created will actuate the piston to cause the same to move the valve plug to closed position. Therefore, loss of fluid or fluid pressure which might result because of breakage of the flow conductor on the downstream side of the safety device will be prevented by closure of the safety device. It is manifest that such closure is effected automatically and substantially instantaneously that the predetermined pressure differential is created across the orifice plate or disc 60 by such increased flow.

It is within the scope of this invention, and it is so claimed, to connect the downstream or low pressure pipe 55 at a remote point in the well ow conductor C1 in such a manner as to utilize the` normal flow stream losses in pressure caused by sharp bends or curves in the pipe or conductor C, or the pressure reduction caused by meter runs or the like, for operating the valve rather than utilizing the orice disc 60. In such case, the disc 00 may be omitted.

Since there is normally a higher pressure present in the cylinder 35 above the piston 36 and the cup 31 confined thereon, the single cup will, under normal conditions, eifectively seal the higher pressure above the piston from the lower pressure therebelow. If desired, however, the piston 36 may be provided with a downwardly facing cup to seal olf pressures acting against the under side of the piston.

In order to open the valve, fluid pressures on opposite sides of the actuating piston 36 are equalized by by-passing the fluid pressure fromr theupstreamside .of the'fvalve to the downstream.v

Sider-thereof; whereby such fluid pressure may passthrough the opening l, the pipe 55 and the;

inletl -totheboreof the cylinderl 35. below the piston.l When` theV force of the pressure acting upwardly againstthe full eiectively larger .area` of the-underside ofthe piston becomes `greater than. the force of the pressure acting downwardly upon `the reduced effective area of the upper Yside of thev piston, the piston will be moved upwardly and the valve closure plug 2S will thus be lifted to the position shown in Figure l, whereupon the transversexopening in said plug is positioned in alignment withthe flow passage through the valve-andnu'ids may `fdow therethrough. Such reopeningpf theV device is possible because of thev reduced effective area of the upper side of` the pistonfpr-ovided for by the rod dl.

A'slightly `modiied form of thev safety device is illustrated inFigures 4 and 5, wherein the valve' land actuating means are identical with thoserof 4the..form previously described and are given'thesame identifying numerals. The cap memberlis of. the form previously described is removed, however, and a closure head @o is substituted therefore. The cl-osure head isv screwthreaded into the upper end of the cylinder and is provided with an axial bore 6i which is enlarged at its .lower end to provide a packing recess ,52fin whicha plurality of downwardly facing rings of chevron type packing @t are con ned bymeans of a gland nut 6A threaded into the extreme lower end of the bore of the closure member; The upper portion of the closure G is reduced in diameter and provided with external :t

means of a sleeve 69 which is threaded onto the reduced portion of the rod. The external diameter of the sleeve 69 is substantially the same as that of the large portion of the elongate rod, whereby said sleeve forms a continuation of said rod.` The shear washer 68 is adapted to engage against the upper end ofthe reduced portion 6540i the closure head 6i) and to be confinedY thereagainst by a cap nut it which is screwthreaded onto the reduced portion E 'of the closure head. Thev cap nut 'iii is provided with anv axial opening through which the rod 66 ex'- tends, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The shear washer S'provides means for posi/f' tively controlling the conditions under which the piston 35 will'be moved downwardly to close the valve. When a suii'cient differential in the pres-` sures above the piston and below the piston oc-V curs, the resultant downward force acting upon the piston will serve to shear the washer til to permit the piston to move downwardly and, in

turn, `move the stern 2lv downwardly to forceV the closure plug 2S to the closed position illustrated in Figure 5.

The washer 68 may be formed of any suitable material, such as brass, copper, lead, lthin steel or the like. By varying the thickness of the shear washer, the force necessary to shear said washer and move the piston downwardly can be accurately controlled. f Therefore, the. actuating meansA of thesafety device may be accurately` lll setto ,require` the action ofat least a -predeter--. mined fluid pressure diiferentialuponthe pistoni 36 to,shear said washer topermit the .piston to Obviously;

movedownwardly to close the valve. a low pressure` from downstream of the safety device maybe conducted to the bore of thecylinder-35 belowI the piston. Or, if desiredfthe` opening 5l may be left open to atmospheric pres-` sure only. y

The vfunctioningof the safety device of this modied'form, illustrated in Figures. 4 and 5, is

identical with that. of `the .form previously describedrexcept that the shear washer S8 controls, in `combination `with the reduced eiectivearea of the upper side of the piston, the pressuredifferentialrequiredto actuatethe valve .tof-shut off flow-throughthe flow conductor.

After the valve has Vonce been closed toshut off flow, it may be re-opened in the samemanneras that ofthe -form previously` described and a new shear washer installed on the elongate rod 'between 'the shoulder 61 and the sleeve'BSf andgclamped between the upper end S5 of thev closure head and the cap nut lil.' When the` valve has been reopened and a new washer has' been installed, the safetyfdevice is again ready for use;

Another modification of the safety Ydevice is shown inFigures 6 through 8 inclusive -wherein a hinged disc or napper type valve is illustrated as being 'actuated by the actuating means. deviceincludes a valve housing lil` having a transverse flow passage il therethrough. At each end of the flow passage the body is providedwith externa flanges 72 by means of which it may bel connected to the Vflanged coupling members i3 of a How conductorC. Sealing rings lll interposedbetweenthe Vanges prevent iuid leakageper end of the partition l5, as clearly shown in Figure-.6.. The disc or closure member 'i3 .isfA adaptedwto-swing. about the hingefig fro-inthe.. open vposition 'shown'in Figure 6 to the closed e position shown in Figure -7. A stop screw 89 eX.- tending through the wall of the body is provided for limitingthe upward movement of the disc or closure `llil to the position illustrated'in Figure 1.

The upper side of the closure disc Yis provided with anupstanding ear or lug Si to whichv a yoke link 82 is swingably pinned.- rEhe upper free end of the yoke link` is swingably connected to the., lower vend o-a stem 83 which is connected by screw threads to the lower end of a piston vSQ and depends axially therefrom. A lock nut 85 is threaded onthe stem and against the lower end ofthe piston to prevent displacement of the stem from its connection to the piston.

rhe piston is substantially cylindrical and has a central annular flange Sii-which is undercut on each'side and against which oppositely facingv sealing cup rings 8i abut. The sealing cups are held in engagement with the-shoulder ilfV by thimbles 88 and sealing nuts 89 which are threaded on vto each end Aof the piston, asclearly shown in Figure 6.

The pistonl 8f3' is :adapted 'to move vertically .within the hereof an elongate cylindricalhous-.ff

The

- ing 90 which is bolted to the upper end of the vertical section 11 of the housing of the valve. A sealing ring 9| interposed between the cylinder and the vertical section 11 prevents fluid leakage past the adjacent ends of said members. The upper end of the bore of the cylinder 90 is reduced to provide a packing receptacle 02 in which a plurality of downwardly facing chevron type sealing rings 93 are confined by means of a gland-like cap washer 94 which is bolted to the upper end of said housing. An elongate rod 95 is screwthreaded into the upper end of the piston 84 and extends axially upward from the upper end of said piston through the packing rings 93 and the gland washer 94. A lock nut 96 threaded onto the'rod engages against the upper end of the piston to securely hold said rod connected to said piston.

The upper portion of the rod 95 is reduced in diameter and provided with external screw threads for receiving a damper disc 91 which is slidable within a damper dash-pot 93 extending axially upwardly from tbe upper surface of the gland washer 94. A cap 99 having an axial opening therein is threaded onto the upper end of the damper dash-pot 98, andthe extreme upper end of the rod 95 is adapted to extend upwardly through and above said cap. The diameter of the damper washer 91 is slightly less than the inside diameter of the bore of the dash-pot 98, whereby oil or other iluid may pass therebetween when placed within said dash-pot to act as a dampening agent as the damper disc 91 moves downwardly within the dash-pot. Due to the relatively close t between the periphery of the disc and the inner wall of the dash-pot, it will be seen that the iiuid within the dash-pot will pass slowly therebetween to a point above the disc as said disc and the elongate rod are moved downwardly, thus affording a dampening or restraining means resisting downward movement of the rod and thefpiston connected thereto.

A lateral inlet port is formed in the wall of the cylinder 90 near the upper end of the large portion of the bore thereof and is adapted to have a conductor pipe I0! threadedly connected thereto. The outer end of the pipe |0| is connected to a T |02, one arm of which is connected with a pipe |03 and a valve |04 communicating with the conductor C by means of a port |05 formed radially in the flanged connecting member 13 on the upstream side of the valve, whereby fluid pressures within the conductor C may pass through the opening |05, the valve |04, the pipe |03, the T |02, the pipe |0I and the port |00 to the bore of the cylinder above the piston 84. The other arm of the T |02 has an exhaust or vent pipe |00 connected thereto which is provided with an exhaust valve 01. The exhaust pipe |06 and valve |01 are used for venting fluid pressure from within the cylinder above the piston in a manner and for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. t

An orice plate or disc |08 is preferably formed integral with the sealing ring 14 at the upstream end of the flow passage through the valve body for creating a pressure reduction which will, under predetermined conditions, actuate the piston 84 to cause the same to move downwardly to force the flapper disc or closure 18 to the closed position illustrated in Figure 7.

The under side of the piston 84 is exposed to the lower fluid pressure downstream of the orice plate 08, said iluid pressure passing through the flow passage 1| and upwardly through the hollow vertical section 11 of the housing to the lower portion of the cylinder to act against the under side of said piston. The higher pressure on the upstream side of the orice plate |08 will pass upwardly through the opening |05, the pipe |03, the valve |04, the T |02, the conductor |0| and the port |00 into the upper portion of the bore of the cylinder 90 above the piston and act downwardly thereon.

Since the full eiective cross-sectional area of the under side of the piston is exposed to the lower downstream fluid pressure, it will readily be seen that the eiTective cross-sectional area of the upper side of the piston, which is reduced by an amount equal to the cross-sectional area of the rod 05 which is exposed to atmosphere, must be acted upon by a higher pressure than that below the piston to cause downward movement thereof, as has already been explained.

In the event of breakage of the flow conductor .on the downstream side of the safety device, or

a reduction in pressure on the downstream side of the orice plate |08 for any reason, resulting in an increase in the rate of flow through the conductor and creating a pressure reduction or pressure diiferential across said plate equa1 to or in excess of the differential required to move the piston, the lower pressure acting upon the under side of the piston 84 will be overcome by the higher pressure acting upon the upper side of said piston and the piston will be forced downwardly. As the piston is moved downwardly. thestem 83 will move downwardly and move the yoke link 82 downwardly to swing the disc or closure 18 about the hinge 19 to the closed position shown in Fig'- ure 7 to close 01T flow through the ilow passage 1| of the housing.

Normally, when thedisc or closure 18 enters the path of ow of fluids through the ilow passage 1|, the impact of said fluids upon said disc will increase the velocity of. motion of the disc toward slosed position, and might result in breakage or severe damage to the disc or the seat 16. `To prevent such acceleration of downward or closing movement of the disc, the dash-pot 98 and disc 91 have been provided. The resistance of the disc 91 passing through the oil or other` uid contained in the dash-pot 98 will slow down or resist an increase in the rate of movement of the closure disc 18 toward its closed position and thus prevent damage to said closure disc.

Manifestlv, the principle of operation of this form of safety device is the same as that of the forms previously described, there being merely a slight difference in construction and the addition of a modied form of restraining means for preventing undue acceleration of movement of the closure disc 18 to closed position.

-To reopen the valve after it has been closed, it is only necessary to close the valve |04 in the pipe |03 to prevent fluid pressure from the upstream side of the orifice plate from entering the bore of the cylinder above the piston, and to open the exhaust or vent valve |01 to permit the fluid pressure trapped within the cylinder above the piston to escape through the vent pipe |06. As the trapped fluid pressure escapes, an upward pressure diiTerential from below the piston will act to move said piston upwardly to open the valve to permit resumption of flow through the device. Or, the valve may be opened by equalizing the iluid pressures on opposite sides of the piston in the manner previously described.

After the valve has been opened in the aforesaid manner, the exhaust valve |01 is closed #and *11 the' 'v'alve I |14V isopened -toy again establish 'com- '-'=munic'atiori between 'the flow conductor and the bore 'off the cylinder-above 'the piston. "The `-`valvewill'then functionlin the manner already 'described; to `shut ol'flow through the conductor *inf the event of an increase in the rate vof flow "'throughthe conductor creating a `pressure-"reduction across theoriiiceplateV |08 sufficient to cause actuation of the piston.

*Ai 'further ymodificationk of the Asafety device is' illustrated-'in Figuresv 9 throughll inclusive. The device includes a valvehousing or casing IIB having a transverseiiow'passage I I I therethrough "with a flanged inlet opening I|2 and a flanged outlet I"I3. The `,upper end of the valvevbody or `housingif-is provided 4with an external' annular "flange III!` by meansof which a bonnet |`|may be-bolted to said 4housing for closing the bore of .the same. kiA'sealing ring Hinterposedbetween L-theflangeandi-the bonnet prevents iiu'id leakage therebetween. '"Ihe bonnet is "provided with an 'fzaxialrvertical i opening which is enlarged toiform a;y packing recess I I I'irr which a plurality :of "optposltelyrfacing rings v'of chevrontypepacking I I8 #areconnedbymeans of a glandnut I-'I S'threaded" 4l;into'rhe'lo.wer-endofsaidopening.

i A: valve stem' I2 Il extends vertically through" the bonnet into'lthe 1Abore/of; the housing' and is con- 'r-ne'ctedjto af gate 'type 'plug orclosure '12| which "-"is slidable vertically within the housing between'Vl flldentic'al "opposing seats |22 mounted Ltherein 'surrounding the inlet' andv outlet: portions ofthe allow passage' I I I. The valveclosure'or'plug is "illfl'istra'tedas' being" of the well-known sectional jwedge'type; whichV is" so designed. that` z oneVV of-l @the '-wedged'surf ace members of "the, closure: element engages a portion ofthe housing to force the -""closure "elementi-into tight isealing engagement withl 'the' seats 122; butmay be of any' vsuitable "-desireditype.

The-"closure or" plug" I 2 lI liswprovided "with a 'transverse opening 'I `2 3 "in, itslower portion 'which is 'adapted "to" be.` moved: into alignment with `the ilow passage* II Iithroughthe housing to permit owthrough 'the' valve. Whenthe valve closure 4'TplugIis moved downwardly .to"'theposition illus- V ""tratedin .Figure .110;V the solid portion" of lithe plug als vpositionedin ,alignment with'lthe ow vpassage `:.toiclosethevsame against. flowlthrough the valve.

Mounted on-'.the upper end of the bonnet is` ,.a (valveeactuating mechanism including. anelon- ,agate .verticalcylinder I|25 Whichis preferably .formedfintegral.- with-the' bonnet. and .in vertical fralignment .withflthe bore fof .the housing. --A pis- ....tonl.' I 2.6",..having.apair. .ofropposit'ely facing sealing.cups1I21.moL1nted-.thereon1-and held inplace by meansy of.a"thiinble 12a-andra. .packing nut |29, :is connected tao-.the .upper-end of. the-valve Hstem-1=I20byscrew`threads and ,is` securely held L'place .thereori .by allock .nnt'y Y| 30. l.A- bushing .`.-.I3I.;,is screw-lthreadedfinto the-upper endof the ..,cylinderl`l2'5iand.isprovided with an axial .openl.ing |32 through which. a vertically extendingre- .strainingf. rod r.II-.33 -is 4,adapted to..slide. The :re- ..estrainingrrod.is. .screw-.threadedinto .f the. upper endcfithepiston I`2|-and .is heldsecurelycon- .enectedftheretoby alock nut 34. The upper porltonL of: .the bushing I 3 I.. is reduced l in.A external ...zliameteieand atransverse opening. |35fis. formed ltr-.this reduced portion. and through ythe restrainning. rod .4.3.3, as isclearly. shown in Figure 9.

A7sheanpin 436. is mounted in the-opening. |35 and.-.iss adapted-to. resistgdownward rmovement of lthefrestrainingfrod and fthe piston .l |25- connected thereto, whereby downward closing movementor the plug'or closure member'IZI-is normally prevented. A cap |3'F is screw-'threaded ontov the upper end of 'the-bushing surrounding and enclosing the reduced upper portion thereor and the upper end of therestraining rod, and

said cap provides a closure preventing fluid leak- Vage from within 'the upper portion of the'cylinder.

A high pressure inlet opening |38 is formed in the wallof the cylinder |25 just below Athe lower end of the bushing'ISi and provides for admisf sion of fluid pressure into the bore of the cylinvder above the piston.

the i'inlet opening ofthe valve housing and a flanged connecting member Ille `of a flow conductor C. An exhaustor vent pipe |5I having an rexhaust valve I52.therein isconnectedto the pipe |40 `between :the valvell'and the high J pressureV inletopening I38 topermit opening the ing liormed in a spacer'member |49 which is .safety device, as will hereinafter be explained, .aftersaidsafety device has closed.

The disc |43 is provided with athreadedv opening therethrough in axialhalignment with the hereof the conductor C and the ow passage III :of the valve housing,"and a flow restricting or `choke member '|45 is screw-threaded into said u opening for the purpose Vof creating a pressure drop or reductionat that point upstream of the safety device.

A low pressure iiuid conductor or pipe |45 hav- .ing a valve .|41 therein isconnected tothev low vpressure inlet |39 and leads to a radial openadapted to be bolted between the flanged-outlet end |.I3 vof the valve housing and a. flanged y,con-

.necting member I5 provided on the `end of a section of the flow conductor C, whereby the valvehousing is connected in the flow conductor and the low.pressure fluid may be conducted to the bore of the cylinder I25.below the piston therein.

In operation, the device is connected in the iiow conductor .in the manner just described and fluid is permitted .to flow through the conductor.

`As the fluid iiows through the flow restricting choke |45, a pressure reduction is effected thereacross on the upstream side of the safety device. It is preferable, as has already .been explained, that ,the pressure reduction so created be such that it will not materially aect normal flowing operations through` the conductor. The

.higher'pressure upstream offthe choke |45 will sure opening |39 to the bore of `thecylinderbelow the piston.

. t willbe seen, therefore, that the unequal fluid pressures upstream and downstreamof the iiow restricting choke will act uponopposite sides of the piston and tend tornove'said VpistonV downwardly to force the valve stem-|20 downwardly Landmove the closure plug VI2I vto closedposition to shut oli flow through the valve housing. Such downward movement of the piston is normally prevented or restrained by the shear pin |36 extending through the upper end of the bushing |3| and the restraining rod |33. The diameter of the shear pin may be so selected that a desired predetermined fluid pressure differential must be applied to the opposed surfaces of the piston to create suflicient downward force to shear the pin and move the piston downwardly. Obviously, flow conditions which create diiferentials less than that required to shear the pin cannot move the piston, and such normal flowing conditions will not effect closure of the safety device. However, should there be an increase in the rate of flow through the conductor creating a pressure reduction across the choke equal to or in excess of the differential required to shear the pin |36, or should the ow conductor break downstream of the safety device and release the pressure therein to atmosphere, the pressure differential so created will urge the piston downwardly with adequate force to shear the pin |36 and permit the piston to be moved downwardly to force the closure plug |2| to the closed position shown in Figure 10.

In this form of the safety device, the entire upwardly facing cross-sectional area of the piston |26 is exposed to the high pressure trapped thereabove within the cylinder |25, and the amount or value of the fluid pressure differential required to actuate the piston is determined by the size of the shear pin |35. Thus, by changing the diameter of the shear pin, the operator may predetermine the pressure differential necessary to effect closure of the valve and thereby,

control the conditions under which the valve will close to prevent loss of fluid or iluid pressure from within the flow conductor C. Also, the crifice through the flow restricting choke |45 may be changed in size to change the pressure reduction or pressure drop created across said choke to meet varying now conditions, as has been previously set forth.

Manifestly, the spacer member |49 may be located at a remote point downstream of the safety device, if desired, whereby the pressure losses or pressure reductions created by sharp turns or bends in the conductor or by meter runs or the like may be utilized as the means for creating the pressure differential applied to the opposite sides of the actuating piston |26, and whereby the ow restricting choke may be omitted.

The valve may be opened by closing the valve |4| to prevent uid pressure from the upstream side of the chole from enteringthe bore of the cylinder above the piston and opening the exhaust valve |52 to permit the iluid pressure trapped within the cylinder above the piston to escape through the vent pipe |5|. Fluid pressure from upstream of the valve is by-passed to the downstream side thereof. Such by-passed iiuid pressure will enter the cylinder below the piston to create an effective upward pressure differential upon the piston, to cause the same to move upwardly to lift the closure plug |2| to open position and to realign the openings |35 through the upper end of the bushing |3| and the restraining rod |33, whereupon a new shear pin may be placed in said openings and the device again placed in operation.

If desired, the shear pin |36 may be omitted and a different type of restraining means employed for resisting downward movement of the actuating piston |26. One such resisting means is illustrated in Figure 11 and includes a springpressed plunger |55 urged radially inwardly of a bushing |56, screw-threaded into the upper end of the cylinder |25, by a spring |51. The spring and the plunger |55 are slidably mounted in a housing |58 mounted radially of the bushing. The inner reduced rounded end of the plunger is adapted to engage in a bevel-edged annular recess |59 formed in the periphery of the upper portion of the restraining rod 33' to resist downward movement of said rod. The pressure exerted by the spring |51 is controlled by manipulation of an adjusting screw |69) which is screwthreaded into the bore of the housing |58 and engages the outer end of the spring. A handle |6| permits ready adjustment of the screw. Packing rings |62 are mounted in an enlargement of the outer portion of the bore of the housing |58 and are conned therein surrounding the screw by a gland nut |63 which is threaded onto the cuter end of the housing. The beveled surface at the upper end of the recess |59 engages the inner end of the plunger |55, whereby downward movement of the restraining rod |33 is resisted. However, upon application of a sufcient downward force upon the piston |26, the beveled surface at the upper end of the recess forces the plunger outwardly against the pressure of the spring to permit the restraining rod to move downwardly, whereby the piston forces the closure |2| to closed position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a safety device has been provided which is adapted to be connected in a fluid flow conductor for the purpose of controlling the flow through lsuch conductor, to positively and completely shut off ow therethrough or to prevent loss of pressure or fluid from the conductor, in the event of the occurrence of predetermined flow conditions. It will further be seen that the safety device is adapted to be actuated by the flowing fluids passing through the conductor to shut off flow through such conductor when a predetermined fluid pressure differential is applied to actuating means for effecting closure of the safety device. It will particularly be noted that the safety device is provided with actuating means having incorporated therein means for resisting movement of said actuating means which would cause the device to shut off flow through the conductor, whereby the conditions under which the safety device will close may be accurately controlled and adjusted. The restraining means may, as has been pointed out herein, include means for balancing out a portion of the effective area of the actuation piston exposed to the high upstream fluid pressure, or may include yieldable or shear means resisting actuating movement of the piston, or may include a combination of both balancing means and shear means, or other suitable means.

It will also be seen that the device is adapted to be actuated from fully open to fully closed position by fluid pressure differentials created by the fluids flowing through the flow conductor in which the device is located, and wherein fluctuating velocities of flow such as occur when the fluids head or surge will not effect premature closure of the device, whereby uninterrupted normal flow through the conductor is permitted. Further, means has been provided for dampening the action of the actuating piston to prevent damage or destruction of the valve members of the safety device in the event of sudden application of a high pressure differential across the iziaotuatingcpiston. -:-.Also, ymeans has beenV providedacausing .reopeningofthe safety `device after ithas been closedftoshutaoif now.

' The foregoing description .of the invention is wexplanatory onlyVand changes in; the details of the-'constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in theart, within the scope of the `#appended claims, without departingr from the .spirit 'of the invention.

"What I .claim and desire to secure by Letters :Patent is:

l. A safety device including, a housing adapted to-be` connected in a flow conductor and having va now passage therethrough, valve means in said housing for controlling iioiv through said passage, v. a-:cylinder carried by said housing, a piston movable in said cylinder `and operatively connected with said valve means'for actuating the same,

a-zrodxconnected to the surface vof the piston opposite the connection to the valve means and `:extending exteriorly of the cylinder sc as to be exi-msed to atmosphericzpressure whereby the effective `area oirsuco` piston surfacecis' reduced,

'dampen 'movement of said valve means.

2.1A safety device including, a housing adapted tobe connected in a now conductor and having a flow passage therethrough, valve means insaid housing forcontrolling owthrough said passage,

acylinderrcarried by said housing, a piston movv`able in said'cylinder and operatively connected with said valve means for actuating the same,

a member connected with the surface of the piston opposite the valvev means connection and extendingexteriorly of the cylinder so as to be --exposed tov atmospheric pressurev whereby the said means toeectively .reduce the force Aapplied 'eieotive varea or such surface of the piston is reduced to provide unbalanced opposed areas on the piston, flow restricting means connected with the flow passage of the'housing for creating a pressure reduction in the fluid lovving through the conductor, and means for conducting the fluid pressures from 'opposite sides of the now restricting means to the opposed areas of the piston for actuating thesame, the imbalance ofthe opposed vareas of the piston normally restraining the piston in aposition holding the valve means open.

- 3. A nuid flow shut-ofi device for a now conductorincluding, a housing adapted to be connectedin a flow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough, valve means movable in said housing, a cylinder carried by the housing,

apistcn movable in said. cylinder operatively connected with said valve means for actuating the 'same and having opposed areas exposed to luid pressures within the cylinder, a flow restricting Vmember connected with the fiow passage of the housing, huid flow conductors communicating with opposite sides of said flow restricting memberandvvith the cylinder for conductingpressure iuids from opposite sides of said iiow restricting'memberto said opposed areas of said 'pistonfor causing said pitson to move in response i toi the differential in said pressures to eiect closure of the valve means, and means operatively connected with 'the piston opposite kthe valve 4*means and movabletherewith and having asuri face exposed to atmospheric pressure exteriorly ofthe cylinder whereby the fluid pressure within V1-.-.thef'cylinderlion'fone.side ofithe piston acts upon 1 and acting upon the rod exteriorlyof the cylinder Yby such fluid` pressure tosuch side of the piston `to restrain said piston against oper-ation ofthe valve means until at least a predeterminedpressure differentialis applied to said piston.

4. Al safety device including, a valve housing adapted to be connected in a ow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough, a valve closure member movable in the housing for opening and closing the flow passage, a cylinder carried by the housing, a piston movable in the cylinder and havlngopposed pressure receiving surfaces, means operatively connecting the valve closure member with the Vpiston whereby. movement of the piston inthe cylinder moves the closure member in the housing, a first conductorforconducting pressure fluid .from upstream of. the valve `closure memberto .the cylinder for actingupon onesuri'aceof the piston to Vurgeisaid piston in va vdirection which will move the .valve closure member toward closed position, a..second,.con vductor for conducting pressure fluid from downstream of the valve closure member to the cylinder for acting upon the opposite surfaceof the piston to urge said piston in a direction which-will Amove the closure member toward open position,

and a rod removably and interchangeably/.connected with the surface of the piston exposed to upstream fluid pressure and extending exterior-1y of the cylinder whereby the cross-sectionallarea of the rod extending exterorly ofthe cylinder is exposed to atmospheric pressure and the effective area of the suriace of the piston to which said rod is connected is reduced so that when the fluid pressures applied to the opposed surfaces of the piston are equal the piston will urge the valve closure member to open position and will maintain said closure member in such open position until the fluid pressures acting upon said piston are unbalanced to such a degree that a sufficient pressure differential is applied to said piston to urge said piston in a direction moving the closure member toward closed position, the .crosssectional area of the rod extending exteriorly of the cylinder controlling and predetermining the pressure differential required to be applied to the piston to move Vthe closure member to closed position.

5. A safety device of the character set forth in claim 4 including, yieldable means connected with to restrain movement ofthe Vpiston in a direction moving the valve closure member toward closed position and yieldable to permit such movement of the piston upon the application of a predetermined pressure differential to said piston, said yieldable means then being ineffective to restrain movement of the piston and valve closure member.

6. A safety device of .the character setiorth in claim i inoludingmeans for equalizing the pressures on opposite surfaces of the piston after said valve closure member has been' moved to :closed position to cause the piston to move the closure member to open position.

7. A' safety device of the character set'forth in claim 4 including, afrangible member between the rod and the cylinder eXteriorly of said cylinder for restraining movement of the piston to which said rod is connectedin a directionimoving the valve closure member toward closed position, said frangible 'member beingifrangible upon the applica-tion of a predetermined luidpressure differential to said piston to permitthe piston to move the closureA member to closed' position.

S. 'A' safety Idevice adapted toibel'mounted'. in a 1 7 fluid ow conductor for automatically shutting off fluid ow through said conductor under predetermined conditions and including, a housing adapted to be connected in the flow conductor and having a flow passage therethrough, valve means movable in the housing for controlling ow through said passage, a cylinder carried by the housing, a piston movable in the cylinder and having a stern connecting it with the valve means for actuating the same, a member connected to the surface of said piston opposite the stern and extending exteriorly of the cylinder whereby the eiective area of such surface of the piston is reduced, a flow restricting device connected with the valve housing flow passage for reducing the pressure of uids flowing through the passage, a conductor communicating with the fluid fiow conductor upstream of the flow restricting device and with the cylinder on the side of the piston havingthe exposed member connected thereto, a second conductor communicating with the uid flow conductor downstream of the flow restricting device and with the cylinder on the side of the piston opposite the exposed member whereby the piston is moved in response to the differential in pressures applied to the opposite surfaces of the piston` and reduction in pressure downstream of the restricting device will increase the diiTerential to cause the piston to operate the valve member automatically to close the same to shut off iiow of fiuid through the housing and iiow conductor.

9. A safety device including, a housing having a flow passage therethrough and adapted to be connected in a ow conductor, valve closure means movable in said housing for controlling iiow through said passage, a cylinder connected with the housing, a valve stem connected at one end with the valve closure member and extending outwardly through the cylinder and having its opposite end exposed to atmospheric pressure exteriorly of the cylinder, said stem having a piston secured thereto and slidable longitudinally in the cylinder, packing at opposite ends of the cylinder sealing between the valve stem and said ends of said cylinder, the cross-sectional area of the valve stem exposed to atmospheric pressure being greater than the cross-sectional area of the stem extending through the opposite end of the cylinder and connected with the valve closure means, whereby the effective area of the face of the piston opposite the valve closure means is less than the effective area of the face of the piston nearest the valve closure means, flow restricting means connected in the flow conductor for creating a pressure reduction in fluids flowing through said conductor, means for conducting iiuid pressure from upstream of said flow restricting means to the cylinder to act on the face of the piston opposite the valve closure means, and means for conducting fluid pressure from downstream of said fiow restricting means to the cylinder to act on the face of the piston nearest said valve closure means, whereby the pressure differential in the cylinder induced by the flow restricting means acts upon the piston to actuate the valve closure means, the diierence in effective areas of the opposite faces of the piston determining the pressure differential required to operate the valve.

19. A safety device including, a housing having a flow passage therethrough and adapted to be connected in a ow conductor, valve means in said housing for controlling flow through said passage, flow restricting means connected in the fiow conductor for creating a pressure reduction in fluids owing through said flow conductor, actuating means comprising a cylinder and a piston movable therein, said piston being connected to said valve means and having opposed areas exposed to uid pressures from upstream and downstream of the flow restricting means for operating said valve means in response to the differential in pressures applied to said piston, and restraining means for restraining said actuating means against closing movement of said Valve means until a predetermined pressure differential has been applied to said piston, said restraining means including a member connected to one of the opposed areas of the piston opposite the Valve means connection and having a surface exposed to atmospheric pressure exteriorly of the cylinder whereby the eiective area of the piston to which the exposed member is connected is reduced to less than the effective area of the other of the opposed piston areas so that the pressure dinerential which must be applied to the piston to move the Valve means is determined by the difference between said area to which the exposed member is connected and the other of the opposed piston areas.

11. In a safety device of the character set forth in claim 9, a frangible member exteriorly of the cylinder connected to the exposed end of the valve stem for restraining said piston against operation of the valve closure means and shearable when a predetermined pressure differential has been applied to the piston.

HERBERT C. OTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 24,408 Belliss et al Jan. 25, 1906 938,574 Goldsmith Nov. 2, 1909` 1,874,019 Mangiamelli Aug. 30, 1932 2,227,297 Coy Dec. 31, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 109,350 Switzerland June 1, 1925 193,193v Germany Dec. 16, 1907 

